According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a food that is calorie-free must contain less than five calories per serving. A low-calorie food may offer 40 calories or fewer per serving. Most calorie-free foods are actually either beverages, broths or sugar-free dessert items, such as gelatin, sugar-free hard candy, or condiments. The number of food items that are calorie-free is very limited.
Beverages and Broths
Many beverages offer few or no calories, or energy, per serving. Water is just one example. Other like beverages include diet sodas and electrolyte-enhanced, sugar-free sports drinks, herbal teas, coffee and/or sugar-free coffee drinks. Low-calorie fruit juice blends and/or fruit juice cocktails made with non-nutritive sweeteners, such as Splenda, vegetable and tomato juices, diet vegetable/fruit juice blends, hot cocoa made with sugar-free hot cocoa mix and water, and some broths (such as chicken, beef or vegetable) are nearly calorie-free.
Vegetables
Certain vegetables, in the quantities specified, offer five calories or fewer. Examples include one dill pickle spear, 1 cup chopped watercress or Swiss chard, 1/2 cup raw cucumber slices, 1/3 cup of shredded cooked cabbage, such as Napa or Chinese, 1/4 cup chopped, cooked (or 3/4 cup raw) New Zealand spinach, 1 cup of chopped lettuce (all varieties, including Boston, bibb, red or green leaf, and iceberg), 1/2 cup of sliced radishes, 1/3 cup of sliced summer squash (all varieties), one medium celery stalk, 10 raw bell pepper strips, two cooked or raw asparagus spears, 1/3 cup sliced white mushrooms and 1 cup raw spinach.
Sweets and Condiments
Some sweets and condiments, limited to one serving as indicated on the nutrition facts panel, are calorie-free. Examples include fudge pops and all fruit-flavored Popsicles (sugar free), some frozen novelties (diet or made with non-nutritive sweeteners), sugar-free gelatin, sugar-free hard candies, sugar-free jams or preserves, dietetic pancake syrup, mustard, flavored vinegars (such as red wine, rice or balsamic), pickle relish, vegetable-based salsa, steak sauce, low-calorie salad dressings, and herbs and spices are examples of condiments which provide flavor without the calories.
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